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Craft Brewing And Distilling News for December 10, 2012

•San Francisco’s Anchor Distilling has partnered with sister company Anchor Brewing to unveil a new beer-inspired craft spirit, Hophead vodka. According to local news reports, Hophead was created by Anchor Brewing’s head brewer Mark Carpenter and Anchor Distilling’s head distiller Bruce Joseph, who each selected two varieties of hops for the vodka’s formula. Launching in San Francisco and New York City this week, Hophead is priced at $29.95 a 750-ml. The vodka joins Anchor Distilling’s company-owned portfolio, which includes Old Potrero American whiskey and Junipero gin. Anchor also handles several Berry Bros.-owned brands as well as agency brands like Chinaco Tequila and the BenRiach and GlenDronach single malts, among others.

•Dulce Vida Spirits’ organic, 100-proof Dulce Vida Tequila brand has released a Lone Star Edition Añejo. Aged in Texas straight Bourbon barrels from Hye, Texas-based Garrison Brothers Distillery, the new limited edition expression is a handcrafted vintage Añejo priced at $75 a bottle. Just 600 cases of Lone Star, which began rolling out last month, are currently available throughout Texas. The brand’s core lineup, which includes a Blanco ($35 a 750-ml.), Reposado ($40) and Añejo ($45), is distributed throughout Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

•Fort Collins, Colorado-based Odell Brewing is set to release a new offering—Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout—to its 4-Pack Series. The beer will be available beginning in January throughout the brewery’s 10-state distribution footprint, priced around $10.99 for a four-pack of 12-ounce bottles. Named for Odell’s longtime friend and farmer Lugene Sas, the beer is a full-bodied stout brewed with milk sugar and milk chocolate. Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout joins a 4-Pack Series that also features Myrcenary Double IPA, Mountain Standard Double Black IPA and Double Pilsner.